Bread feeding machine



E. A. RUDOLPH BREAD FEEDING MACHINE Sept. 23, 1952 2,611,470

Filed Aug. 1, 1949 INVENTOR. Eu hR A, manna ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1952 7 2,611,470" BREE Ffil'iiilNG 1 Edward AlberIii- Rudol'p l i, Richmond Annex} Calif? Apiniostitimu'gusfi; 1949';scheme-inane? or o This invention relates tonew -and? useiuiin'iprovements in bread fedi-ng' 'machinesi This machine isus'eful'in the reparatiom of" sandwiches in large quantities: particulaily in'de positing slices of bread on a conveyorbeltywh'ichfi moves the slices pastva'rious statidns,at-which' operations, such as spreading with mayonnaisepr application of sandwich fillersflmay be-'-performed. The particularf-unction' oi thefmachine is to separate slices'o'fbreadfrom' a loaf-and tie-"*- posit them on the'movingjbeit; with thsli'g po sitioned in alignment,- flat-on thebelt f' Sliced fresh bread has at"leasiftwc"eharzatcter istics which cause difii'cultyin thefrapld preparm tion of sandwiches: One "such characteristic" isf the fact that'the slices-tend'to adhere tofeach"' other, with the result that they mustbe'positi'vely separated'and, in the'course of su'ch"separation,

it frequently occurs that "two prmore slicesjwill adhere, a situation which i's undesirablein that the slices must then "beseparated"'manually." A

second characteristic. oiireshly sliced bread is that the bread is compressible by reason of its inherent spongy nature; and hencevarious means of holdingthslMes-of mom-prior to' 'se arati'on, must be devisediwhichltake -into-account this compressibility.

Accordingly, a. principalwbj'ect' of the? present 1? invention is to separater'onez by one the slices -of a loafof breadvand deposi-t each slide-fiat ch -a" conveyor belt.

An additional advantage of tno' present ravention is the fact thatthe 'machin is' ad to compensate for various size's and thic of slices of breadi'and their-relative' zfreshnessv I Additional objects and advantages j-"of the in vention are the saving-inlabor, occasioned-byuse of the instant machine, and -the fact that thre is less possibility of nontaminatingth br'ad -by reason of human contact-er proximitxh' Further objects of 'my inventibn'will become'- apparent upon thereading of the speeificatieri' and referring tothe accompanying drawingsfin which similar character references'representcor responding parts in each of -the-"severaI--views.-

Referringto thedrawing'sfi 1 Fig.1 is a perspective-'view 'ofthe machine Fig. 2 is a vertical section; takfi' s'ubstahtially'"'" through i the mid-'section-of the -machine: I

The invention comprises mechanism a'ssociated' 50 with two-moving belts or surfaces;nanie1y;"a first be deposited as received 'fro'm the fbreadslicing machine, and a second-movingb'eltfl'3 in prox="' imity thereto, uponwhichthslicsfar deposited one by one. The other meonamsm neremmei des'cribed has for its function the separation and transmission" of 'th'e sli'ce's from the" first"-belt" I I to th second-belt fl.

The belt- I I inits upper reachmoves" over-an incI-ihed" table I 4; which" is Supported by' 1egs 'I'6" adjacenti'ts "-lcwer ektremity and legs 'JI'I adj ac'nt' itsopposit extremity; Associated with' the table It a r o posed side-pieces l8; the distance between which ma be a djlis'ted s6 as to compensate ror varymg: widths; of 1o'aves or bread? Sliced loaves be iiisrted 'between said sides ta and morall -"supported" thereby so "that as the -con-" veyor belt mo the breaeismoveu" downwardly To 'assi'stin' ins rti'n'g the 'br'e'aZi}the'upper edges I cor 'sides -"I'B ar cju'r'ved'-'outwardly. v As inustrat'ew herein; ino'vement of theb elt I I may be intermittent jratlae'rthahodntihubizsl- Adjacent each'endpf'the table l-l -aresheavs 2 I and 22; supporting-and definin'g th loiigiti dif ratchet whoa-mime "a pluralityof mie moh et tee'tn'za gadget arra gea to engago the teeth at and rotate th shaft irr banter-amok: i wise uireot onpas viwea n'e'ya r i aog z'rg is 'pivotally-attached to'TQckr :2 which is pivotally-mounted on the 'shaft"23 and oi eeuyg con cte'd -to :omnk armzs -'-e'xtendin g at amiss angl 1t espect'thereto-I The out'e'r' -e'nd {6i arm 29 harr ie's' pivotaf atfiafdhifiiefit 31f th radial: distahof'the attachment rr'om thshaf 2'3 is made adjustable so as to vary the arcu'at "dis-** slot J32} as-illu's'trated in Fig:

A drive shaft 50,{attached bypuneys' and *belts" (not shown) toasuitable'electric motoribears'at-f one end' a' revolving-'diskfi'f bearing 'an adjustable crank 52 the throw of-w ioh ismadead ustameby reason of a radia1"slot-53 inth cranwwhich receives ivot-55 5p that theecc'entfiicity may {be reg'ulated. A connecting rod: nectsthe'attachment' iii-with the pivotjstfana" byadjustin'g thethrowfof the'pivot 54 and th'f position of the-attachment 3l the'angular move mer t r the dog "21 r r each revolution ofthe' drive shaft-50 may be 'adjustedaccurately. The linear" movement of'belt 1 I may "bea'dji1sted"to"j move forwardlythe-thicknessof'one'slice ofbrea by "adjusting thpositions r atta'clirnent3'l" ari'df pivot 5@ to regulate the "angular movemomo'r the ds'ifl-f" V .t 4 v p Also connected to drive shaft' soft 68 of the detaching arm 66 is about equal to one and one-half times the normal thickness of a slice of bread. The detaching arm 68 continuously revolves in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 and as the corner (29 adjacent theouter end of leading radial element 68 engages the top of the outermost slice of the loaf of bread, it

moves the upper end of the slice away from the other slices, the upper edge of the slice being bent slightly forwardly in the process. The finger 61 keeps the slice from being impelled horizontally forward and directs the piece downwardly toward the conveyor I3. The arcuate portion 88 of the detaching arm 86 restrains the next slice of bread from following the first slice.

A pair of side plates I I,-which in effect constitute extensions of side members I8, extend along the gap between the conveyor belt I! and the conveyor belt I3 and prevent the bread from falling off .the belts. Attached to the opposed plates II is a U-shaped wire trip 12, the ends I3 of the legs I4 of which are bent outwardly, as indicated by numeral 13, and extendthrough holes in the side plates 'II 50 as to permit the central portion I6 of the trip to rest upon the belt II.

The function of the central portion I6 of the trip 12 is to engage and retard the lower edge of the slice of bread and thus cause the slice to fall horizontally upon the upper reach of belt I3. A plate TL-having beveled edges 18, is disposed transversely and substantially closes off the space between the belts II and I3 and prevents bread from falling between the belts or being carried around by the belt II. plates II is a U-shaped support 8|, from which depends a gate 82 hingedly connected thereto. The function of the gate 82 is to prevent slices of bread from flying outwardly and off the belt I3.. The gate 82 further dampens the movement of the slices. 7

Either connection to the machine herein de- Attached to I scribed or positioned at the next machine is a second gate 86, fixed above the surface of the prevent more than one slice being fed at a time,

the machine is provided with a plurality of resilient fingers which engage the slices. Thus. on each side of the machine is a curved, resilient finger 88 attached at its upper end to a frame member 89 inclined slightly forwardly from the vertical and curved inwardly at its lower end to engage the bread. Side members I8 are cut away, as indicated by reference numeral 9|, at their lower extremities to permit the inwardly curved portions of the fingers 88 to engage the bread. On the transverse shaft 92, extending between the upper ends of frame members 89, is a pair of depending fingers 93 which rest upon the upper edge of the loaf of bread and restrain movement thereof. Longitudinal members 94 connect the upper extremities of the structural members 64 and 89 and the member 89 is also braced by a strut 98 attached at its opposite end to the table I4.

Fingers 9 3 are loose on the shaft 82 but the finger or separator IOI, interposed therebetween, is pinned to the shaft. A collar I02 is fixed to one end of the shaft 92 and connected by rod I03 to a pivotal connection I04 on lever I06, the optached to crank arm I08 fixed to shaft 63. The

relationship is such-that rotation of shaft 63 causes the finger IOI to be moved downwardly at the time that the detaching arm 66 is removing the last slice from the loaf of bread. The position of the outer extremity of finger IOI is such that it holds back themext slice of bread and prevents it from moving away with the previous slice which is being disengaged. Further rotation of the shaft 63 causes the finger IN to move upwardly, andat this time the belt II is moving forward and carrying the next slice into position.

It will be observed,. therefore, that the relationship of 'the disengaging arm 66, crank I08 andcrank 52 on their respective shafts is such that the belt I I is not moving and the finger IN is depressed when the disengaging arm-66 is removing a slice of bread-i. e., when the parts are in tliaposition shown in-Fig. 2. .After the disengaging arm 66 has moved-past the position shown'in Fig. 2, the finger IN is elevated and the ratchet 24 moves the belt II forwardly. I

The inclination of table I4 may be made adjustable by selection of suitable holes- H8 in legs and transverse angle 1, the lower end of table I l resting on studs'I I8 on legs I5.

Operation To summarize and correlate the omrational features of the machine hereinbefore described: The attendant places one or more loaves I2 of sliced bread on the conveyor belt II between the side pieces I8. The electric motor (not shown) causes rotation of the shaft 50 which, by reason of the eccentric throw of crank 52, causes an intermittent forward movement of the dog 21 which engages the teeth 26 of the ratchet wheel 24, there being suitable adjustment to regulate the angularity of rotation of the ratchet wheel 24 In accordance with the thicknessof the slices of bread. As the ratchet wheel 24 moves, it causes the belt II to move forwardly and carry the bread a distance equal to the thickness of one slice, the forward movement of the bread being occasioned by the frictional engagement of the belt I I with the underside of the bread, together with the attraction of gravity by reason of the inclination of the-top reach of the belt II and the weight of the bread piled upon the. belt behind the lowermost slice.

At the time the belt II is moving forwardly, the finger II is elevated, but after forward movement has stopped and at the time when the disengaging arm 66 1s moving around until it contacts the lowermost slice of bread, the finger IOI is depressed so that its outer extremity is interposed betweenthe outermost and the next outermost slice of bread. the actuation of this finger being occasioned by oscillation of the shaft 92,'which is connected by rod I03. lever I08 and crank I08 to the shaft I53 on which thedisengagins arm 5.is;nioii i ed-. f ia nd 5% 9f the leadin radial edge 68 of the glisengagin .841 .55 contacts. and moves forwardly the upperside' of the outermost slice of bread pulls oriben it out of engagement with-the fingers 88 83 wh c eld back the us ms at wartim as they are being moved by, 3; e disengagingv arm 66. The finger 61, attached to'the leading radial edge 68 of the disengagingiarmrfit, prevents the slice, from fiying out of the machine in case t er has? h d g The n ral p. tion 16 of the trip 12 engages-the bottompdges of the slice and causes it to fall fiat on the belt IS. The plate 1! prevents the bread from being carried around on the belt II or falling between the sheaves 2| and Hi, which supports belt l3. A hinged gate 82 dampens the movement of the bread and prevents the various slices from being thrown oif of the belt.

The side pieces l8 provide lateral support for the leaf. The belt l3 carries the slices away for subsequent operations, it being understood that the linear speed of movement of the belt [3 is considerably greater than that of the belt H, since the width of the bread is considerably greater than the thickness of the slices.

A second gate 86, positioned a distance above the top surface of the belt 13 slightly greater than the thickness of the slice, prevents a second slice from being carried along on top of another slice. This second gate 86 may be positioned at any convenient point either in proximity to the structure hereinabove described or at the next station.

Although I have described my invention in some detail by way of illustration for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for feeding slices of bread from a sliced loaf of bread, a conveyor, means for intermittently advancing said conveyor a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a slice of bread, means for holding the slices of bread and restraining random forward movement of said slices, and a disengaging arm adapted to first strike and then move forwardly the furthermost slice and disengage said slice from said last mentioned means, said disengaging arm being arranged to contact said furthermost slice when said first mentioned means is not advancing the loaf.

2. In a bread feeding machine, a first conveyor, means for intermittently advancing said first conveyor a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a slice of bread, means proximate said conveyor for receiving and laterally supporting slices of bread, a plurality of resilient fingers engaging and restraining forward movement of the furthermost slice of bread, a disengaging arm arranged to first strikeand then move forwardly said furthermost slice and disengage said slice from said fingers, a second conveyor, and guide means directing said slice from said first conveyor to said second conveyor.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2, in which said disengaging arm is arranged to revolve in timed relationship to said first mentioned means and comprises a pair of diverging radial arms and an arcuate surface joining the extremities of said arms arranged so that the corner at which the leading and said arcuate surface intersect page:

waisiiireaeni i the u ifieia ic or bread a di g g g are arrested t0 fiat-area an 9Ye 9 2a d v s id .iur he mgstl aancl d enga aid, slise iro sai fin e s: a se ond conveyor, guide mean re ng aid slice from dfirst-tamer: '9 5. J

v H cond conveyor, said guide means comprising a pair of opposed side plates dinson eithersidents i machine bromine res n isaidfirstcorrvgyq to, said second conveyor, and a triparrangedtdengage the lower edge of said slice of bread to position said slice substantially parallel with said second conveyor.

5. In a bread feeding machine, a first conveyor, means proximate said conveyor for receiving and laterally supporting slices of bread, a plurality of resilient fingers engaging and restraining forward movement of the furthermost slice of bread, a disengaging arm arranged to first strike and then move forwardly said furthermost slice and disengage said slice from said fingers, a second conveyor, guide means directing said slice from said first conveyor to said second conveyor, said guide means comprising a pair of opposed side plates extending on either side of said machine from the region of said first conveyor to said second conveyor, a trip arranged to engage the lower edge of said slice of bread to position said slice substantially parallel with said second conveyor, and a gate arranged to swing about a pivot transverse to said second conveyor and disposed with its lower edge positioned above said second conveyor a distance about equal to the thickness of a slice of bread.

6. In a bread feeding machine, a conveyor, means for intermittently advancing said conveyor a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a slice of bread, means proximate said conveyor for receiving and laterally supporting slices of bread, a plurality of resilient fingers engaging and restraining forward movement of the furthermost slice of bread, a disengaging arm arranged to contact and move forwardly said furthermost slice and disengage said slice from said fingers, and a separator arranged to be interposed between said furthermost slice and the next adjacent slice to create a gap between the top edges thereof and to cooperate with said disengaging arm for disengagement of a single slice of bread at a time and arranged to be elevated out of engagement with said slice during movement of said conveyor.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6, in which means for moving said conveyor, means for actuating said disengaging arm and means for elevating said separator are all arranged for actuation in timed relationship to each other.

8. A machine as defined in claim 6, in which said disengaging arm and said separator are connected together by means arranged to depress said separator when saiddisengaging arm contacts the bread, said means comprising separate shafts on which said arm and separator are mounted, cranks on each of said shafts, and a connecting lever between said cranks.

9. In a bread feeding machine, a first conveyor, means proximate said conveyor for receiving and laterally supporting slices of bread, a plurality of resilient fingers engaging and re- 7 straining forward movement of the furthermost slice of bread, a disengaging arm arranged to first strike and thenmove forwardly said furthermost slice and disengage said slice from said fingers, a second conveyor, guide means directing 5 said slice from said first conveyor to said second conveyor, and a gate arranged to swing around a pivot transverse to said second conveyor and disposed with its lower edge positioned above said second conveyor a distance about equal to 1 the thickness of a slice of bread.

EDWARD ALBERT RUDOLPH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Nurnb a Number 7 The following references are of record in the 1 file of this patent:

. Name Date Prince Nov. 7, 1905 Anderson Feb. 15, 1921 Jahne Aug. 1, 1933 Ciolino Mar. 5, 1935 Hermani Mar. 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS I Country Date Germany Nov. 7, 1905 1 Germany June 26, 1931 

